19 Aug 2018

The Department of Road Transport and Safety, Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA), Botswana Police Service and motor clubs have joint forces to address the high rate of road accidents in the country.

Speaking at an occasion organised by MVA Fund, traffic officer Mr Obonetse Tuelo said 99 per cent of road accidents were due to human error.

Addressing BMW, Mazda, Honda Fit and VW clubs, Mr Tuelo said those were the vehicles that concerned them as traffic officers as most were driven by youngsters who liked showing off to their peers.

He said last year Palapye recorded 560 road accidents out of which 23 per cent involved the above mentioned vehicles.

Mr Tuelo said when assessing or investigating accidents they considered three factors being man, machine and the environment, adding that most accidents could have been avoided had the drivers exercised caution.

He appealed to the nation to protect the country’s welfare and economy since funds that could have been used for development went towards buying medication to assist those involved in road accidents.

Earlier on, MVA Fund branch manager, Mr John Bunga said they had longed for such a meeting with motor clubs.

Mr Bunga said the motor clubs campaign was expected to run for three months instead of the anticipated six months because it was launched late.

He concurred that huge amounts of money was used on road accident costs,  and that it could be reduced if the clubs came up with strategies on how to curb road accidents and educate the public on road safety.

“Together we can if each takes the responsibility to reduce or curb road accidents,” he said.

For his part public education officer, Mr Emmanuel Mosinki said reducing road accident would afford government to use funds for development.

He urged the clubs to come up with programmes that would educate the public and other drivers.

He also appealed to them to redeem their social status, saying most were youngsters and were viewed by the public as bad drivers.

Mr Mosinki said for the duration of the campaign, the clubs should ensure that none of the mentioned vehicles were involved in any road offences since they would be monitored until the end of November and added that they were expected to come up with interventions to assist in road safety activities.

He said they would be rated using a point system and would be awarded points.

He said every month the winning team would receive P1 000 and at the end the overall winning team would get P3 000.

The clubs chairperson, Mr Victor Rechards assured MVA that they would do their best with assistant and guidance from them.

He said it was their wish as youngsters to be exemplary in reducing road accidents in the Palapye Administration Authority policing areas.

Mr Rechard said they have realised that youth competed on road and that it caused accidents.

He said they were encouraged that they could make a difference since they were also concerned about the behaviour of their peers. ENDS